Compare countries · Cambodia vs Thailand
Cambodia vs Thailand
Across 12 comparable indicators: Cambodia leads on 2, Thailand on 9, 1 effectively tied. Which trade-offs matter is yours to weigh; the rows below show where each country wins, with sources.
Quick answers
Is Cambodia cheaper than Thailand?
Numbeo's 2026 cost-of-living index (NYC = 100) puts Cambodia at 34.8 and Thailand at 38.0. Cambodia is about 8% cheaper overall.
Is Cambodia or Thailand safer?
On the Global Peace Index (lower = more peaceful), Cambodia scores 2.08 and Thailand scores 2.09. The two are effectively tied.
Which has the higher quality of life, Cambodia or Thailand?
On the UN Human Development Index, Cambodia scores 0.606 and Thailand scores 0.798. Thailand scores higher on this composite of income, health and education. Single indexes hide trade-offs; the full comparison above shows where each country wins.
What is life like in Cambodia compared to Thailand?
GNI per capita runs $2,750 in Cambodia against $7,690 in Thailand; people live 70.8 years on average against 76.6; Numbeo users rate healthcare 52 against 78. Those are national averages and they hide the thing you actually feel: capital-city costs run well ahead of the national figure in most countries, and rural provision of healthcare and internet often lags the number shown here. The table below splits it indicator by indicator.
Head to head
Cost of living index
Numbeo 2026 (NYC = 100)
Cambodia
34.8
Better than 69% of countries
Thailand
38.0
Better than 62% of countries
Cambodia: 8% cheaper overall.
Rent index
Numbeo 2026 (NYC = 100)
Cambodia
10.0
Better than 75% of countries
Thailand
13.9
Around the global middle
Cambodia: 28% cheaper rents.
Peace — Global Peace Index
Institute for Economics & Peace (lower = more peaceful)
Cambodia
2.08
Worse than 59% of countries
Thailand
2.09
Worse than 62% of countries
Effectively tied — under 2% apart.
Perceived street safety
Numbeo Safety Index 2026
Cambodia
50.3
Worse than 64% of countries
Thailand
63.4
Better than 68% of countries
Thailand: higher perceived safety (63.4 vs 50.3).
Human Development Index
UNDP Human Development Report
Cambodia
0.606
Worse than 78% of countries
Thailand
0.798
Better than 60% of countries
Thailand: higher human development (0.798 vs 0.606).
GDP per person (PPP)
World Bank · 2025
Cambodia
$8,543
Worse than 74% of countries
Thailand
$26,250
Better than 58% of countries
Thailand: 207% higher income per person.
Life expectancy
World Bank · 2024
Cambodia
70.8 yrs
Worse than 66% of countries
Thailand
76.6 yrs
Better than 62% of countries
Thailand: 5.8 years longer on average.
Healthcare index
Numbeo Healthcare Index 2026
Cambodia
51.6
Worse than 88% of countries
Thailand
77.5
Better than 92% of countries
Thailand: better-rated healthcare (77.5 vs 51.6).
Fixed broadband speed
Ookla Speedtest Global Index
Cambodia
52 Mbps
Worse than 70% of countries
Thailand
274 Mbps
Better than 91% of countries
Thailand: 428% faster fixed internet.
Press freedom
RSF World Press Freedom Index
Cambodia
33/100
Worse than 84% of countries
Thailand
54/100
Around the global middle
Thailand: freer press (54 vs 33 of 100).
Happiness
World Happiness Report (Cantril ladder 0–10)
Cambodia
4.46
Worse than 82% of countries
Thailand
6.30
Better than 65% of countries
Thailand: happier on the Cantril ladder (6.30 vs 4.46).
English proficiency
EF English Proficiency Index
Cambodia
390
Worse than 100% of countries
Thailand
402
Worse than 95% of countries
Thailand: stronger English proficiency (402 vs 390).
Not comparable for this pair
- Climate pleasantness: Numbeo doesn't publish a climate index for one of these countries.
Deciding between Cambodia and Thailand for real?
Indexes can't weigh your budget, your timeline or your dealbreakers. The matcher asks, then answers with this same data.
Find your match →Full Cambodia profile →
70+ indicators: economy, safety, governance, climate and visas.
Full Thailand profile →
70+ indicators: economy, safety, governance, climate and visas.